E-Comm urges British Columbians to take the 911 pledge
Posted April 12, 2022 10:24 pm.
Last Updated April 12, 2022 10:27 pm.
The 911 Pledge is part of B.C. Emergency Service Dispatchers’ and 911 Awareness Week, to urge the importance of using the emergency service responsibly.
Kim Johnson, a call taker and peer coach at E-Comm says accidental and prank calls take up time and resources from other callers who are actually experiencing an emergency.
“We get hundreds of accidental dials every day. In this situation, we actually have to confirm every one of those calls is not a real emergency and make sure that the caller is safe,” Johnson explained.
We all have a role to play in protecting 911 resources and ensuring our loved ones can reach the help they need in an emergency. That’s why E-Comm is challenging British Columbians to pledge to use 911 responsibly. Visit https://t.co/4pmS7sZJsc to take the pledge today! #911BC pic.twitter.com/U7pn8ZJCWI
— E-Comm 9-1-1 (@EComm911_info) April 12, 2022
According to E-Comm, last year they received more than two million calls and more than 5,000 calls per day on average.
Johnson says call volumes are on the rise, and every second 911 call takers spend responding to non-urgent or misdialed calls, is time they could dedicate to helping someone in a life-threatening emergency.
In an effort to prevent non-emergency calls from backing up the phone lines, the 911 pledge is way to make people aware of the severity of calling the line.
In late March when a nation-wide amber alert was issued, 911 call takers said from the time the Amber Alert was issued just after noon to when the kids were found safe, its call volume doubled.
According to E-Comm, many people were calling because they were confused with the alert or angry about the brief noise and notification, which they say is one of many reasons not to call and jam up the phone lines.
“We have the 911 pledge this week to encourage British Columbians use it responsibly, and only call 911 if there’s an emergency. It’s important to use 911 responsibly, so that the lines will be open if other people are having emergencies, and they’re not tied up for non emergencies or accidental dials,” Johnson urged.
– With files from Ricky Tong
